CANTERBURY v SOUTHLAND.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10757, 10 September 1900, Page 2

CANTERBURY v SOUTHLAND.

CANTERBURY WINS

Senior football here closed! on Saturday with the interprovincial match. Canterbury v Southland, in whicli the home team were victorious by 3 points (a try) to nothing. The weather was beautiful, and the ground in good order. The attendance was good, but not large. The game was a very evenly contested one. In the first spell Canterbury were the most on the attack, and in the second were kept the longer defending. In forward -vwrk each team about held ite own, but in tbc combination of the backs and <the cleanness of their

work Southland were superior. Mr G. Fache was referee, and the teams were as under: —Canterbury (Red and Black)— Fullback, J. S. Middleton; three-quarter-backs, E. T. Harper, T. E. Parry, G. Gray;fiveeighth?, P. Harvey, A. Mason; half-back, J. Weston j forwards, H. Frost (captain), M. Lynskey, B. Fanning, R. Corsbie, J. Jahnstone, W. Drake, G. D. Pascoe, W. Douglas. Southland (Maroon) —Full-back, J. Taylor; three-quarters, R. Bain, W. Stead, H. Hill; five-eighths, W. Hannah, G. Glennie; half-back, J. Reynolds; forwards, I. Jenkins (captain), J. J. Taylor, P. Hogan, J. McPherson, C. Purdue, E. Purdue, A. McNie, W. Myers, Canterbury kicked off with the nor'-easter slightly against them, and Bain returned. The Red forwards made the work and from a scrum in the Maroon's 25's, Weston passed to Harvey, and he to Parry, who missed the ball. Hill nipped it up and saved, but Middleton sent it back, and the game settled in neutral territory on the Southland side. Good play between Reynolds, Hannah, Stead, Glennie, and Bain and a short kick by the last dropped the ball well over the Canterbury twenty-five flag. The Red forwards, however, proved their-worth and gradually beat their opponents back. E. Purdue got his companions out of a tight place and Stead and Hill stemmed a dangerous looking Canterbury rush. Harvey, with some useful kicks, frequently found the line, and then Jenkins, Stead, Reynolds, Hill, Hogan, and E. Purdue assisted in a couple of rushes the last of which compelled Canterbury to force in self defence. Then followed a lot of give and take play. Mason marked off a free kick to the Maroons, and the ball was placed for Harper without success. Then Stead stopped a heavy rush and Reynolds, finding the line, lost to Canterbury all the ground gained. A bit of clean, neat wdrk among the Southland backs placed Can* terbury in difficulties, and E. Purdue was entrusted with a place from a mark by Taylor. The ball fell ehort and 1 was taken by Gray, who put his companions on the attack, and from the forward rush which followed Fanning was able to secure a try, which Harper did not convert. The rest of the spell was evenly contested. The second half produced nothing beyond the ordinary though favoured by both wind and gun Canterbury were expected to increase the score. An interchange of kicks finished up in the Red's quarters and Hill from a pass was only grassed! in the nick of time, Then Southland were awarded a free kick and E. Purdue had another futile place. J. J. Taylor, Jenkins, and Bain instituted a dribbling and passing run and got play at the Canterbury flag, whence, after much bustling on the line, C. Purdue cleared the danger. Gray, Corsbie, and Frost renewed the attack, but Hannah marked, his kick having no effect, as Middleton returned the leather and then a series of scrums was witnessed near the oentre. A run by Glennie followed by Jenkins nearly let the last in, and about this time the Red forwards lost the services of Pascoe, who retired with a dislocated- ejbow. A fine Southern rush by Stead, Bain and Glennie forced Canterbury, who were now having the worst of the "game, and being called upon to exercise a strict defence. Weston, Parry, Gray, Mason, and Harvey, apart from forward work, several times relieved, but Taylor, Bain, Hill, and Jenkins would lead return rushes in response and eventually the struggle hung about the centre. Purdue had another place at goal from a mark by Hill, but the ball fell short and the Reds sent it back to the centre, where uninteresting play ensued until the call of time.

The provinces have played eight matches, of which Canterbury have won six and one has been drawn. The Southland team in the evening left for Wellington, where they play on Wednesday.